Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-06-13
THE CASE OF THE sILvERsm1rHs

THE CASE OF THE sILvERsMITHs.
Some time ago it was announced by the
dispatches that the silyersmiths in New
York had fallen out with their employers,
and that the manufacturers had refused to
employ for the future any silversmith who
was a member of the Knights of Labor
Inquiry has been had, and the facts of the
strike and lockout are now laid bare.
The showing is bad for the workmen.
1t appears that certain knights of Labor
who perform the "duty" of spying about
4" works" and giving manufacturers notice
how things" must be run and business
conducted, on pain of having their men
" called out" attempted to dictate
to Tiffany & Co, New York.
The firm resented the interference
and told the walking delegates to go where
it is hotter. As result one of the class
held up his finger; the workmen laid
down their tools; the great engine stopped,
and the wheels of the machinery came to
stand still. 1t turns out that the "dele-
gate" who made the demand, and gave the
signal, is not a silversmith, but an en-
gineer. OF course Tiffany & Co. appealed
to other manufacturers for aid and SYM
pathy, and adopting the method of the
Knights, manufacturers treaty of alliance
was speedily agreed upon, and the result is
that no Knights of Labor silversmith will
be employed in New York by the larger
manufacturing jewelry houses.
There was no complaint that the men
were not well paid in fact their wages
were higher than those of other craftsmen.
They had good hours, were sure of their
wages every week, and had laid no charge
of harsh treatment or insufficient reward
In such case what earthly
excuse can men make to those dependent
upon them for such idiocy as the strike
typifed? The siIversmiths deliberately
surrendered their liberty and their man
hood to society that they might be used
to further the ends of some other classes of
wage-winHers The men thrown out of
employment are now living upon the.
wages of all the craftsmen ia all trades re-
lated to the Knights, and thus two bur
dens are put upon workmen-one Of idle
ness upon the silversmiths, one of loss
upon the men employed.
Ii appears that the person who gave the
signal calling out Tifanys men, according
to his own testimony, looks upon his posi-
ton giving him the power to wiring smart
money from his employers, and which
some people denominate "blackmail."
This man-who knew nothing of silver
smithing- to have himself put
upon the Board of Arbitration of District
Assembly, No. 49, of New York, which has
occasioned more trouble than all the other
Assemblies combined. On the investiga-
ton this man confessed that he had falsi
fed in seeking labor, and had advised
Others, also, TO deny that they were
Knights in order the more easily to OBJ
tain "places." 1t was this same District
Assembly 40 that went beyond its iuris
diction and invaded that of the carpet
weavers, who form distinct Assembly.
The '49ers concluded that GER
tain carpets were not woven
to suit them, ordered change in method
and backed il up with threat to call
the men out" The weayers, who were
getting good wages and were contented,
resisted the action and denied the right of
No 40 to boycott the business of their EN-
pioyers- The weayers had once obeyed
the order to strike in the interests of
the eoal-handlers' strike, and they lost
thereby some tens of thousands of dollars
They We're not to be bitten a second time.
and so refused to leave good wages on ac-
count of walking delegates and Assembly
councils. That is, they decided they would
take no further part in boycotts. An APP
peal to the head Of the Order was taken.
and the carpet weavers were one morning
surprised to find the carpets of the facto-
ries where they worked under the ban of
the boycott.
There must come an end to this sort of
business some time soon. The boycott is
the weapon of wrong when used as the
Knights have recently been doing. So
cIety will not long tolerate it, and though
Mr. Powderly declares that he is opposed
to 1t, so long as the Order over which he
presides uses it to force employees and en-
ployers TO unjust acts he must be held to
responsibility. The jewelers. of New York
were right in their resistance to the
knights, for to yield to them was the
equivalent Of handing the business over to
the Order to run it.